davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.

May 81 Mcclellan had, on both stiles Of the
Chickahomny, an army of 126,000. John
ston, who was well informed of the Union
movements, resolved to attack the two Federal
corps south of the Chickahominy at Fair
Oaks station COUGHS division was the ex-
IRENE right of the Federal forces, and occu-
pied Fair Oaks, little railway station.
Cisey's division was grouped a little south
east of Couchs, around the Seven Pines
tavern, so called because there are seven pine
trees there. Between these two points the
bloodest fighting was, and it is therefore cor
rect to mention the battle 10y either name.
Johnston commanded the Confedcrates.
The position of the two armies will lie seen
from the map. The Confederates advanced
in three columns to the right, left AMI front
of the Fcderas. Longstreet and ID. II. Hill
attacked in the front, Huger on the left and
Gustavus w. Smith on the right at Fair
Oaks
Owing to the wretched roads it was noon
before the attack was made. Gen. Naglees
Federal brigade was in advance on the front,
and caught the first heavy fire. He ordered
bayonet charge to save his artillery. 1t
was given with WILL and then Nagle's
and Casey's divisions fell back to COUGHS
second line. Casey lost some of his cannon
A hot enfilading fire had cut down many Of
his men. To the rear of COUGHS and Casey's
divisions were the corps commanders. keyes
and IIeintzelman, with, as they faced the
south, Reyes on the right and Heintzelman OH
the left
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25


90 4iot did their best to satisfy him. BY the
a.. n October Mcclellan had a well equipped
army OF l3i.2S5 men, his effective force,
ready for fighting There was an aggregate
OF lGS,3lS The people expected the Young
NAPOLEON TO iigtt lie talked about striking
an effective blow and making short,
sharp, decisive" campaign, which should finish
the war. Opposed to him at Centreville and
Manassas was n Confederate force OF 5O,OOO
effective men.
President Lincoln was exceedingly anxious
that the favorits general should strike TN"
g,1ind blow he had promised. "If something
is not done soon" said Lincoln, "the bottom
will fall out of everything"
Mcclellan announced that tho crushing
defeat of the rebel army ut Manassas" was
his object, and that an advance against II
SHOULD not be postponed beyond Nov 10
That date catuc and went, the year 1851 faded
ont and 1852 was ushercd in, and still no
great blow was struck. In February, III
letter TO President Lincoln, the general says:
II have ever regarded our true policy as
being that of fully preparing ourselves
February passed and still no blow, ex
ccpt OF the kind which one meets upon paper.
BY March the people Of the United States
had run uoa debt OF 500, 1000, 900 lin equipplnS
and preparing armies, chiefly that of the 20
tomHc.
In tho months of uac.ion too, with the vast
and constantly increasing army lying idle Mt
Washington, the Confcleratcs had actually
blocked The Potomac 10y planting batteries on
the Virginia side of the Potomac some twenty
five miles beiowWashington. Press and people
were howl ng for something TO be done, and
President Lincoln was well nigh distracted.
Gen Mcclellan for some time refused even
to communicate h 5 plan of campaign TO Mr.
Lincoln. Once the anxious president called
on the general, who sent back word that he
was i'll md could not sec him. But next day
Mcclellan was dressed and out riding. To all
attempts to urge him forward he replied that
he was not ready.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
ON TO RICHMOND.

Gen Mcclellan had expected the col 'tant
cooperation of the navy in the camua sn OF
the Peninsula. Gunboats and tram ports
were to move up the rivers, conveying troop
and supplies, and lowering as a protect On to
the force that moved By land betw'el the
rivers The James river was at that til 90 in
possession of the Confederates, but the gen
eral hoped, "by rapid movements 10 open
up the James river and capture Johns con 5
army and Richmond before re-eniorcen entS
could arrive from the west and south.
For some time previous the United 3 ateS
navy had been engaged in watching the Con
felerate ram Merrimac at Fortress MOI roe.
But the duel between the Monitor and M Fri
mac, of Hampton Roads, March Q, enc the
presence of the Monitor at the fortress left
that point comparatively safe base of OF era
tions. Sound military critics agree that Nc
Clellan should have taken Norfolk be lore
startingup the Peninsula.
But he did not. He left it, with the avy
yard in full operation and the Merri mac
steaming and screaming defiance about the
bay. At the same time he expected and IN
sisted on the COOPER alton of the Fed raj
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

yorktown. there were only 5000 southern
troops. There was some skiimishing, nothing
more. II Mcclellan had Immediately attacked
Magruler he could have forced his line and
taken Yorktown without doubt.
For six days the 5000 Conte'erates held
Yorktown against McClellan's $1,000 Then
il began TO be plain what he was about lie
was digging in the ground around Yorktown,
throwing up earthworks, preparing 10 place
heavy siege guns and so into regular invest
ment. Ile cut roads and built bridges And
still it raincd, and McClellans soldiers sick
ened and died in the swamps OF the war
wick
One OF the Confederate Notifications on the
Federal right was known as Dam No l.
April 10 a reconnaissance Of the Confederate
position was made here by some OF Gen.
William f. Smiths men, under orders from
the general in chief. The Warwick was
waist deep, but some Vernonters he
roically waded across and gained the
Confederate rifle pits, which they held
for half an hour. They were forced TO
withdraw, the Confedcrates being quickly re-
enforced. Once more some other Vermont
troops were ordered across under protection
OF twenty guns, the division battery But
they were met by heavy fire and were or
dered back Gen. Smith was exceedingly
anxious TO mass the division and make II bold
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
IN CAMP ON THE cHlcKAHoMiNY

The historic Chichahominy Is a fork Of ths
James, which rises to the northwest Of Rich
mond, flows southcasterly, and emptics int
the river about half way between Richmon,
and its mouth. North of Richmond it flow,
nearly east ald west.
Meantime early in May, Norfolk had beer
abandoned by the Confederates. Cen lIuger
who held it with 1900 men, was ordered X
the defense Of Richmond. That left thu
James open to Federal gunboats well up to
ward Richmond
McClellan's army advanced through the
mud and rain to the bank OF the Chick
ahominy. Keyes' and Heintzeluans corps
crossed it with one brigade. kearney wa
on the west, at Savage station. Rockers
division of Heintzelman's corps was stationed
to the southwark to guard White Oak Swamp
bridge. Summers, Franklia's and Fitz John
Porier's corps remained on the left or north.
ern bank of the Chickahominy, with McClel-
lan's headquarters at Gaines Mill. keyes'
corps was only five miles from Richmond, and
took position at Seven Pines. In Richmond
there was CONSERVATION. A niece of Mr..
Davis wrote to her mother:
"Uncle jeff thinks we had better go to a
safer place than Richmond He is miserable.
fear he cannot live long il he does not get
some rest and quiet"
In this state of mind Mr.. Davis joined
Church. His niece writes: Uncle JEFF was
confirmed last Tuesday in st. Paul's church.
He was baptized in the morning before
church"
1t was expected that Mcclellan would take
Richmond speedily, and the Confederate
government made preparations to leave it.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
AXE , third one stlll nearer Fort Magrnder.

take third one, still nearer Fort Magrnder,
and repeatedly sent for re-enforcenients 10
euable him TO do so. Sumner twice ordered
them 10 go to his aid and twice counter
manded the order. Hancock sent again ur-
gently, and that time Sumner ordered him to
fall back Thus Hancock got no more sup
port than Hooker did. II seemed, somehow,
TO be a battle without head.
Hancock was extremely loath to obey such
an order, knowing the advantage that might
be gained He determined to obey as slowly
as possible. Meantime the enemy poured in
upon him He began retieating slowly before
them. Suddenly he turned on them and opened
q terrific musket fire. As the smoke from
that cleared away somewhat he shouted to
his men: "Now, gentlemen, tho bayonet."
His soldiers made tremendous bayonet
charge. That decided the day. The Confed-
crates broke and fed. They lost on that part
of the battlefield alone 500 Hancock was
superb Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed next
day.
So Hooker and Kearney on the left and
Hancock on the right saved the day at VIII
lamsburg May s, 1862.
But the Confederates got off and continued
their retreat toward Richmond, just rs they
had intended Next day the pursuing army
captured few of their guns, which had
mired in the mud and been abandoned.
That, with some stray prisoners, was the sum
total of the Federal spois Of war after this
battle. The Union forces lost 2t222S in killed
and wounded, the Confederates l,5G0.
Gen. Mcclellan was not on the field till near
o'clock in the afternoon. He was mt York
town experimenting the removal OF the
forces that were to go up the York by water.
Word was sent to him ut o'clock that the
battle was on, and hotly, and urging him u
20 to the front. He answered simply, II
think they can take care of that little matter
In his book McClellans own hook-he says:
"Could have arrived at | o'clock, 1t Is very
certain that Smith, supported by Couch and
afterward by Casey, would at once have de
bouched from Hancock's ground and have cut
Off the retreat of the greater part OF the
troops engaged against Hooker"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

cruublmG bones Of thousands OF as brave neil
as ever shouldered musket.
A private letter written ut the time de-
clares that Casey's FederaD division alone
lost $500 men from sickness during April and
May.
There was serious difference of opinion
about the line of march which should he
taken There was a sort of triangle OF
authorities 10 he consulted IN forming the
plan of campaign, Oae sas President Lin
coin and his cabinet, another was Gen. Me
Clellan, "A third was the committee OF con
grcss on the conduct Of the war, Senator Zen
Wade of Ohio, chairman. In January, lS62,
Edwin NJ Stanton became secretary of war,
and thereafter was "A most active element In
all military affairs.
President Lincoln had one plan OF attack
Mcclellan another The presidents plan wa'
to move on the Confederates direct at Centre
vile AMI attack them in their stronghold
McCellan's was to go down the Chesapeake
and then work up TO Richmond, Va, anc
capture the capital of the Confederacy befol
the army at Centreville could prevent It, II
has not been decided to this day which plaf
was the best. Either one might have beef
successful II carried out quickly. As II was
there were delay and hanging back and argu
ment. while weeks and months were lost
| McClellan's plan was finally adopted. But th'
| fact remains that from that day on Mcclellan
REGARDED the authorities at Washington as hi
natural enemies In his letters during TIN
| Peninsula campaign occur such expression
| ms these:
"Those hounds at Washington are after m
again"
In these words he refers to President Lin
coin aud his cabinet and the congressiona
committee, including iii the lump certain
military commanders. Especially he con
ceived "a deadly enmity to Secretary Stanton
March 8, 1872, the president issued his gen
eral war order No s. directing the army @
the Potomac to move down the Chesapeake
The permission was given with the expires
condition that Washington should never
20 stripped of troops as to be endangered
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

never was any more chance to get o'hlnd the
Confederate army and take Richnend The
opportunity was lost.
There was nothing for 1t now bus 10 move
down the hesapeako and then Work up TO-
ward Richmond in the face Of tho Confcder-
ate army, Two routes were prop sed, but
that adopted was McClellan's OWL, going 10
Richmond by march up the PENN Nula, be
tween the York and the James rivers Inc
line OF march is shown on our mp by "a
dotted line.
March II the army of the Potoma began
their move to Fortress Monroe. Thy went
down tho Potomac and Chesapeake hay IN
transports Twenty thousand men, largely
fresh recruits, had been left at Wasl ington.
A the subsequent differences and UNI leasaht
feeling between Gen. Mcclellan nd the
authorities ut Washington may be summed
up in n very few words; The president, Necre-
tary Of war and congress were unwi ling to
increase Gen. McCielan's army by she re
endorsements he constantly demand 'd be-
cause they feared 1t would leave Wash ngton
dangerously exposed.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
AROUND WILLIAMSBURG.

Nc ClellaL occupied Yorktown and e,:ab-
lishal his headquarters near there. He sent
his lvalry, with artillery, under Stoneman,
May 4, to pursue Johnston. Stoneman
Caugt up with Stuart's cavalry near the
lIalfV ay house. Here was a line of Con-
tadeia te works waiting for him. In front of
him " As large redoubt of earthworks called
Fort Nagruder. There was some skirmish-
ing ID III Stoneman retreated to wait the ar
rival Of infantry to co operate with him. As
h , did o he left his own cannon behind him,
ms loiit usly stuck in the mud.
May i Hooker had marched with the in
fautry y shorter road on the right to join
St ,neni H. Gen W. f. Smith followed by
the Leei Mill road on the left After him
moy ed c ouch's and Casey's divisions Kear-
ney', 70 lowed Hooker on the right Sum
nerk COZ ps followed next day. Franklin's
and Ft7 john Porter's divisions were to be
sent up I he York river from Yorktown by
watt ". ticn. Mcclellan stayed till the last at
Gor t;owl.
Tie l'e ara troops engaged in the fight at
Willisnisl urg were Hooker's and Smiths di
visions an | kearney's divisions, besides part
Il Coi III s On the Confederate side Long
street C)m handed
Hooker fulfilled his orders to the letter At
daybrs,k, May ), he came in sight Of Will
iamsbarg. Knowing that plenty Of re-
enforce,nel Is were behind him, he attacte+i
at once wit h his 1900 men. All the while the
plan of tic Confederates was to retreat
slowly tow lrd Richmond, keeping a strong
rear qua I'd back of them till they could place
| the Chitkm ominy between themselves and
the enemy. 1t was a mastery movement.
| 1t was thi strcng rear guard which began
| the battle uf williamsburg, though re-en-
! forcements / rom the front speedily were sent
| back.
Hooker, a Citing holly at the front, sent re-
peatedly TO ne commanding officer for help.
| But the simple fact is there was no com
manding officer. A conflict of authority
arose betwee Sumner and Heintzelman, who
disliked each other. SO nothing was done to
relieve Hooker.
Still the re in fen, AZ it had been doing for
a month. A rtilery wheels sank to the center
in the mud, but "Eight,ag Joe Hooker" kept
until night ON the grotnd that had been
abandoned
Not pay in any attention 50 Hooker, who
was fighting on the Federal lat Sumner de-
| cided to Eia ie a movement on tle right A
Confederate redouht on Cub Dam creek, cas-,
Of Fort hagruder, was reported empty
Sumner ordered Gen. Winfield Scot Han
cock to go nd take possession of it, Ne did
so, and like wise took possession of sno,heI
eartbwork !i2 advance Of il lac wished u
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

once attached to this body with the rank of sec
ond lieutenant. He was really one OF the most
brilliant officers of the government. Nhrl'
ever quick, accurate observation AMI seen
ti6c Information were demanded, he was put
forward At one time he was government
exploring engineer in Washington ami Oregon
territories. Again, he was one of three United
States officers sent 10 the Crimca in % To
study and report on the art Of war in Europe.
At this time he was Capt. Mcclellan and one
of the youngest men who ever attalhed thal
rank in the country.
In 1851 he resigned from the army and went
into railroad building and engineering When
the war broke ont in 1861 he was president OF
the eastern division of the Ohio and Mississippi
railroad, and lived in Cincinnati Knowing
him skilled in military matters, the
Ohio people had him Immediately placed
at the head Of the volunteer service OF that
state May Il, 1861, he WAS made "A major
general in the United States army, and
assigned to command tile department OF the
Ohio
Shortly afterward took place his campaign
In West Virginia. He did brilliant service
there, service which resulted in keeping West
Virginia to tho Union.
Then it was that he was called to Washing
ton, and placed over the army Of the Potomac.
The O. A. II. "boys' Of to-day will shake
their gray heads and snilc sadly rs they
recall that time when Mcclellan went Ia
Washington According to our American
fashion, newspapers and people went wild
with enthusiasm over him. lle wns only 81
wears old handsome and dasliing. He looked
the perfect soldier. People called him the
"Young Napoleon and hailed him us the
country's deliverer, All through McClellans
letters to his wife are mentioned the ovations
he received as he passed through to Wash
mgton and even before that After his
success in West Virginia lie writes to Mrs.
Mcclellan:
"Well, it is proud and glorious thing to
see whole people here, simple md nnsophis-
ticated, looking up to me AZ their deliverer
from tyranny"
Again:
~ had u very complimentary dispatch
from Gen. Scott last nigh He said he was
"charmcl With my energy, movements and
success Pretty well for tho old man"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
AT WASHINGTON.

Placed in command Of the army Of the
Potomac headquarters at Warrington, Nc
Clellan Immediately proceeded to restore the
troops 10 prime fighting condition after the
disaster of BuI Run. Any OF the peoples of
Europe could not have believed that We were
a. ignorant Of all pertaining TO war as we
were when Mcclellan took command ut
Washington. Gen Barnard, his chief of en-
gneers, tells how their corps hid to CON
fnnd with tho want of special engineer
srvice There was no properly organized
train for conveying sappers' and mincrS' in-
Elements intrcnchlng tools anu bridge build
ing appurtenancee etc. Axes wcro gwen 10
the soldiers to carry for use in Choppiug down
trees, building roadS, etc. The soldier carried
il till no got tired rnd then threw II away,
Next camp he got new onc, and 50 on.
The Transportation of even the pontoon cqui-
mage fell on tho already overburdened quar-
termaster's department during the heavy
campaigning of the Peninsula,
Mcclellan set Immediately about building
nm army from the stragglers OF Bull Run and
from the recruits that poured in Mt the second
call. The result Of his lab0rs was in time the
splendid army OF the Potomac. In the judg.
ment OF various good authorities Mcclellan
was the best organizer and equipper of an army
either side had during the war La hi,
memoirs Mcclellan writes Of this time OF
preparation:
al passed long days in the saddle and my
nights in tho oi'ice-a very fatigung life, but
one which made my power felt everywhere
and by every one
He felt eiateh. too, by his call to Washing
ton. He writes at that time: president
cabinet aud Gen Scott all deferring to me
BY some strange operation OF magic | seen
10 have become the power Of the land
Mcclellan paid particular attention to TIN
defenses OF Washington, and in course o
time made it a well fortified city After TIN
battle of Bull Run the Confeierates were al
vanced dangerously near to Washington
Centrsvile, little town in Virginia onl,
twenty miles southwest Of Washington, wa
regarded a. the key TO the capital After Bul
Run even that was abandoned, and all til
Union army went trooping pellmell int
Washington. The Confederate forces unde
Beauregard Immediately occupied it. In
deed, Cen Joseph f. Johnston afterward nd
vanced the Confederate lines even to Mur
souS Hill, in an air line only six miles fror
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25


between the general and Washington. Ne
Clcllan demanded always more troops, and
the president and his cabinet refused to let
Washington be denuded. McDowcll's corps,
which had remained at Washington, was to
follow and join the army of the Potomac.
Eut the president did not consider that Gen
Mcclellan had kept his agreement to leave
Washington sufficiently protected, and re
fused to allow Mcdowell to move. This
added to McClelan's irritation and mac.
ton.
For quite six days Mcclellan had lain on
the Warwick with a force several times
larger'than his enemy After that it was too
late to force the Confederate line. April 10
Gen. d. H. Hill arrived with re-enforcements
to the ConfeGerates, and April II Gen Joseph
T. Johnston himself came and took command
in place of Magruder.
April 10 Mcclellan writes that if Franklin's
and McCalIs divisions of McDowell's corps
could be sent him that be would at once at
tack Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown,
take it and storm Yorktown from the rear
and in front by land Franklin's division
was sent tardily and did not arrive at York,
town until April 20. "A few days" after that
Mcclellan maze reconnaissance oI blouces
ter Point.
Plenty of time was taken for preparation.
1t was going to be siege on a magnificent
plan Scaling ladders were made, and by
the Sd Of May everything was NEARLY "
ready.
May 4 came, and 10! the Confederates
had evacuated Yorktown. The scientific
siege of Yorktown had come to naught. The
Confederates had delayed the Federal army a
month in the swamp trenches along the War
wick line. This gave the Confederates time
to recruit organize and drill re-enforcements,
till a formidable army was got together